Horizontal cracking to the external masonry of a property that is of cavity construction indicates a serious structural defect which will need to be investigated by a specialist.
In the most common instances short horizontal cracks within the mortar bed will indicate that the wall ties have failed and are suffering from oxidisation.
Wall Tie Failure
With a failure in the wall tie caused by corrosion iron oxide layers build up on the tie increasing the ties mass, lifting the brick which separates the brick from the mortar it was laid on to therefore the connection between the internal skin of masonry and the external skin of masonry is lost leaving the potential for collapse of the masonry which has happened.
Corroded Wall Tie
If you have horizontal cracking to the external skin of masonry you should initially contact a wall tie specialist like ourselves and have an intrusive Wall Tie Survey carried out so that the cause of the cracking can be diagnosed and a suitable repair scheme implemented.
Wall Tie Replacement is a delicate process which although appears simple should not be deemed so. Many Wall Tie replacement contractors come and go usually due to poor workmanship and incompetence so always use a reputable company.
Wall Tie Replacement
Newman’s are approved by the manufacturer Twistfix to design and install replacement Wall Tie schemes which we can guarantee for up-to 25 years. We specialise in Wall Tie Replacement and have designed and implemented many schemes.
Newman’s have completed a wall tie replacement repair to a property purchased by a private home owner. The home owner became concerned after the purchase as short horizontal cracks were appearing in the outer leaf of the brickwork as well as some of the bricks lifting and rotating.
Wall Tie Installation
Newman’s carried out a wall tie survey using a visual survey and an endoscope survey to determine the condition of the existing wall ties. The wall ties were found to be in a poor state with high levels of corrosion and inadequately spaced.
Current Wall Ties Corroded and Wrongly Spaced
Our specification included the installation of Twistfix’s patented CD 9mm stainless steel Remedial Wall Tie. Installation is a simple process with the helical tie being installed through a 6mm pilot hole.
Isolation of the tie is carried out by locating the existing wall tie and encompassing it with a clan sleeve also supplied by Twistifx. With sleeves in place and the ties isolated re-pointing of the cracked masonry can be carried out and tie holes filled with a mortar to match the existing bricks.
Replacing Current Wall Ties
All of our repair schemes are covered by our own guarantee and for consumer protection we are also members of Insured Guarantees Limited enabling us to provide you with an insurance backed guarantee, which for this particular project guarantees the installation for 20 years even if Newman’s are no longer operating.
Newman’s are currently undertaking wall tie replacement, London for one of our council clients.
We were called upon to carry out a wall tie survey to 15 properties suffering signs of wall tie failure. The classic signs of horizontal cracking within bed joints highlighted the defects and upon our visual and intrusive wall tie survey we found that the existing ties had corroded causing them to expand and lift the bricks work.
Wall Tie Replacement
Wall tie failure is a common defect among houses built in prior to the 1980’s and buildings of all types and constructions suffer from wall tie failure due to the ties being constructed from mild steel or wrought iron and moisture penetration through the pointing of a building reacts with the metal and causes it to rust and expand lifting the masonry. There are other causes of wall tie failure of which we will cover in future blogs.
With this particular project that is underway wall ties are being located using a metal detector and isolated using Twistfix’s unique Clansleeve’s that encompass the failed tie in a sleeve filled with resin that prevents any further corrosion. The sleeve slips onto the tie within the bed joint alleviating the need to remove any bricks.
Wall Tie Replacement
The replacement wall tie we are using for this wall tie replacement, London is Twistfix patented 9mm stainless steel patented CD tie which enables us to install the wall ties quickly as only a 7mm pilot hole is required to drive the tie in. Using this tie enables us to complete over an elevation per day and it also becomes load bearing as soon as it is installed removing the need to wait for any setting times for resins or fixings.
If you have signs of wall tie failure or require a wall tie replacement specialist be sure to contact Newman’s today on 0333 444 0154 or email enquiries@newmans.com
